Eagle Football Needs to GATA
4/10/2013 2:46:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. – There's never enough time.
With a limit on the number of practices allowed in the spring, the objective is to do as much as possible with the little time that is available. For the Eagle Football team, that time would be spent going over fundamentals, teaching some new formations on offense and new schemes on defense and working on being a better TEAM.
Spring 2013 didn't unfold as the Georgia Southern Football coaching staff had envisioned. Injuries to projected starters and key reserves immediately reduced the corps on the banks of "Beautiful Eagle Creek," but, as they say, "the show must go on," and the show must get continue to get better.
Georgia Southern had nearly 20 periods of position and team drills and interaction to make improvements on Tuesday. The combination of work on the field, meetings with coaches and film study work in concert to make the product on the field better. It was a day the Eagles won't get back.
"I have talked to these guys every day since I have been here about making the most of every day and it is disappointing when we don't," said Georgia Southern Head Coach Jeff Monken. "We had the same conversation on Saturday and I didn't think the effort was as good as it should have been and I didn't think it was to start practice today. A lot of it has to do with (the fact that) we're really short on some lines, and guys are getting tired and others, it is just not having the right attitude or mentality when they come out here. Hopefully we'll get that squared away on Thursday."
Thursday is two days away and Saturday's Blue-White Spring Game four and Monken expects to see improvement in both the details and the effort from his Eagles before then. Georgia Southern will likely have two practices next week to complete its spring schedule where the team will be able to work on corrections after reviewing video from weekend's scrimmage.
For Coach Monken and the Eagle coaching staff, every rep, every moment in practice is critical because there is so little time. Monken reminded the team today after practice that tomorrow is not promised.
"I wasn't a good enough player to take for granted any rep or any opportunity I had, there were guys who were a lot better than me, and if I was going to have a chance to play I was going to have to give it everything I had," Monken said. "I see the potential in our guys and if they give it every bit of effort they have got, how good they can be and how good we can be as a team."
SCORING SYSTEM EXPANDS FOR SPRING GAME
The Eagles will not have a draft for this weekend's spring game, but will feature the offense squaring off against the defense and will include some special teams plays. The scoring system will expand beyond the traditional points for touchdowns, field goals, PATs and safeties for both teams. The defense can score points for three-and-outs, causing turnovers on defense, holding the offense to field goals in certain situations and offense can score points for long plays and consecutive first downs, amongst others.
ERK MOVIE FILMING SATURDAY AT SPRING GAME
Gentlemen, grab your "Members Only" jackets and ladies poof up the hair for this Saturday's Blue-White Spring Game, but leave the leg warmers and Zubaz pants at home. Filming of crowd scenes for the Erk Russell movie will take place this weekend and to give Paulson Stadium some 80s flair, fans are asked to don 80s wear to emulate crowds from the early days of Eagle Football. Less is more for scenes with "80s extras," and while period clothing is important, fans are asked not to overdo 80s fashion trends.
EFAA AUCTION & REVERSE RAFFLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets are on sale for the sixth-annual Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) Reverse Raffle and Auction to be held the night of the Blue-White Spring Game, April 13th, at the Gene Bishop Field House. Tickets must be presented at the door between 6-7 p.m. to be eligible for the $10,000 reverse raffle and each ticket admits two people for the evening's hors d' oeuvres buffet and beverages.
A silent auction with one-of-kind Georgia Southern and other football items precedes a live auction featuring exclusive experiences and memorabilia. Tickets may be purchased at the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation located in the Cowart Building Monday-Friday, or by phone at 912-478-5520 during regular 8 a.m.-5 p.m. business hours.
FOLLOW THE EAGLES ONLINE, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA & "EAGLES GATA" MOBILE APP
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
